Stove for burning solidified hydrocarbon fuel



Aug. 29, 1944. A. o. HERRON STOVE FOR BURNING SOLIDIFIED HYDROCARBON FUEL Original Filed Aug. 23. 1940 5 a m 4 z d 0 3 v Z 0 o a e a 1 a0 0 0 0 000 00 O I I m O o D oo nvlo,oo

INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 29, 1944 were ,STOVE FOR, BURNING soLIDrFIEn HYDROCARBON FUEL Albert 0. Herron, West Cheshire, Gonn., assignor to Safety-Fuel Incorporated, West Cheshire,

Conrn, a corporation o'fConnecticut Original application August 23, 1940, Serial No. 353,858. Divided and this application March 21, 1942, Serial No. 435,599

2 Claims.

This invention is a, division of my application, Serial No. 353,858, filed August 23, 1940.

The invention will be more fully understood from the drawing in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an embodiment of my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a section through the construction shown in Fig. 1 on the plane indicated by IIII.

In the drawing 1 is a tubular flue preferably, although not necessarily, of circular cross-section; 2 is a second tubular flue of similar crosssection, at least substantially co-axial with I. lhese flues carry perforations. With respect to I, while the lower part is preferably imperforate, perforations may, if desired, extend the entire height of the flue. With respect to 2, as shown in the drawing, the lower part is imperforate, the perforations preferably being confined to the remainder of the flue. This is not necessarily so, however, and the perforations may occupy the entire height although preferably they are confined to that portion of the flue above the transverse air inlet to be hereinafter described. The perforations preferably run between l4 and I5 holes of approximately diameter to the square inch. Where the flues are of circular cross-section, the space defined by flues l and 2 is annular. Other geometric cross-sections may be similarly employed provided, of course, that the flues are substantially uniformly spaced apart. At least the upper part of the space 3 is combustion space and in the specific form illustrated is of annular cross-section. 'The lower part 4 of this space is in communication with the fuel container 5. gasoline, such as, for example, the solidified gasoline described in U. S. Patent No. 2,246,552 to Eugene D. Stirlen. Flues I and 2 are held in spaced relationship to each other by the annular flange 5 and by the washer-shaped member 1 which in turn are supported by shelf 8. Shelf 8 is formed with radially disposed struts l (Fig. 2) which hold the Washer-shaped member 1 in spaced relationship to outer flange 6 and in such relationship that both flanges are coaxial. Fuel container. is held by ring II on slide l2, which slide is in turn carried by plate l3 pivotally connected by pin 14 to upright I5 fastened to shelf 8. Plate 13 is held in position by latch l6 pivotally connected by pin I! to cross-bar I5. When it is desired to introduce a new container 5 charged with fuel, latch I6 is turned to release plate l3, whereupon plate l3 springs downwardly and away from shelf 8, permitting the removal of the empty container and the substitution of a The fuel charge in container 5 is solidified filled one. the gasoline vapors arising from container 5 through perforations 20 in the external flue I. Air also reaches the vapors through perforations 2| in the internal flue 2. The interior 22 of flue 2 is, therefore, in effect, an'air duct. For the maintenance of satisfactory combustion it is advisable to have a deflector, such as the inverted cone 26 adjacent the upper edge of tubular flue 2. The diameter of this cone is approximately equal to the outside diameter of the flue 2 and the outer rim of the cone is spaced a short distance above the upper edge 21 of the flue 2 by suitable struts (not shown). In this way some air is delivered radially outward from the cone 26 to complete combustion of the gasoline vapors and to insure satisfactory combustion efficiency. The lower end of the air duct is spanned by the bottom closure 28 formed integral with the shelf 8. Receptacle 5 may be of the usual cheese-box shape and is held in communication with the lower end of the annular space between flues l and 2 so that the vapors evolved from the solidified gasoline in the receptacle pass upwardly into the combustion zone. Air for the air duct 22 is provided by the tubes 29 horizontally traversing the tubular flues I and 2 and may terminate flush with the inner wall of flue 2. Preferably, however, I provide a perforatedtubular air distributor 30 in the air duct 22. This air distributor carries perforations 3| preferably uniformly distributed as shown in Fig. 1, there being approximately 28 holes to the square inch of about diameter. For best results, I also find it advisable to cap the air distributor 30. This cap is preferably in the form of an annular plate 32 defining a central orifice 33 of a diameter equal to approximately [5 of the diameter of the air distributor. Where an air distributor is provided, the tubes 29 extend to the interior 34 of the air distributor and terminate flush with the inner wall 35 of the same. In this way free ingress of air to the air duct 22 .is provided. The lower imperforate section of tubular flues l and 2 and of air distributor 30 provide a draft of stack effect that I have found to be essential to high combustion efliciency.

If at any time it is desired to extinguish the flame, slide I2 is pulled by means of handle 36 so that the fuel container 5 is moved to a position underlying the imperforate part of shelf 8. This takes the container 5 away from communication with the space 3 and also seals the container so that combustion is immediately extinguished.

In practice the construction illustrated is Air to support combustion reaches mounted in a suitable shell and this shell carries projecting fingers, such as 38 supporting the vessel to be heated, a short distance above the upper ond co-axial tubular flue of lesser diameter, at least the upper ends of said first and second flues being perforated, said first and second flues defining an annular combustion space and said second flue defining a central air duct, a bottom closure for said central air duct, means for holding a fuel container in communication with the lower end of said annular combustion space and at least one air inlet tube extending transversely through the lower part of said first flue and second flue into said central air duct.

2. A stove for burning solidified hydrocarbon fuel comprising a. first upright tubular flue, a second co-axial tubular flue of lesser diameter, at least the upper ends of said first and second flues being perforate, said first and second flues defining an annular combustion space and said second flue defining a central air duct, a bottom closure for said central air duct, a perforated tubular air distributor within said second flue,

means for holding a fuel container in communication with the lower end of said annular combustion space, and at least one air inlet tube extending transversely through the lower part of said first and second flues and into said air distributor.

ALBERT O. HERRON.

,. CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent :55 ',788- August 29, 191th};

5 ALBERT 0. HERRON.

' It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, sec- 0nd column, line L115, for the words "draft of" readdraft or-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this .lOth day of October, A. D. 19l|lL Henry Van Arsdale a Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

